Automated provisioning of computing networks using a network database model
First Claim
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1. A method for installing software on a hardware device by an agent which resides on the hardware device comprising:
- a communication network gateway sending a message to an agent residing on the hardware device informing the agent of a command to install software on the hardware device on which it resides;
an agent verifying the validity of the message sent to it with the communication network gateway;
the communication network gateway transmitting an indication regarding the validity of the command;
the agent receiving the command to install software on the hardware device if the indication transmitted from the gateway indicates that the command is valid;
the communication network gateway initiating a locking signal regarding using pre-determined resources of the hardware device to execute the command to install software on the hardware device;
the agent requesting files from a file server via the communication network gateway required for completion of the received installation command;
the file server sending the files required for completion of the received installation command to the agent via the communication network gateway;
the agent installing the files sent to it on the hardware device upon which it resides in response to the received installation command; and
the communication network gateway removing the locking signal associated with using the pre-determined resources of the hardware device to execute the command to install software in a hardware device after the files have been installed.
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Abstract
A framework for automatically provisioning computing devices includes a central database system and a central file system. Information stored in the database comprises a model of the individual devices, as well as the interconnections of the devices. The central file system stores the software components to be installed on the devices. When provisioning is carried out, the database sends commands to agents located on each device which cause them to retrieve and install the software components from the file system, and to configure the components according to the stored model.
166 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for installing software on a hardware device by an agent which resides on the hardware device comprising:
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a communication network gateway sending a message to an agent residing on the hardware device informing the agent of a command to install software on the hardware device on which it resides; an agent verifying the validity of the message sent to it with the communication network gateway; the communication network gateway transmitting an indication regarding the validity of the command; the agent receiving the command to install software on the hardware device if the indication transmitted from the gateway indicates that the command is valid; the communication network gateway initiating a locking signal regarding using pre-determined resources of the hardware device to execute the command to install software on the hardware device; the agent requesting files from a file server via the communication network gateway required for completion of the received installation command; the file server sending the files required for completion of the received installation command to the agent via the communication network gateway; the agent installing the files sent to it on the hardware device upon which it resides in response to the received installation command; and the communication network gateway removing the locking signal associated with using the pre-determined resources of the hardware device to execute the command to install software in a hardware device after the files have been installed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of controlling software commands executed on a hardware device by an agent, comprising the steps of:
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the agent receiving a software command from a control network, which is part of a command queue; the agent executing the software command on a hardware device; determining resources on the hardware device currently in use; preventing, by a locking device, a software command from the command queue from being executed upon the device if a resource it requires on the device for execution of the command is in use; and repeating the steps of receiving, executing, and preventing by the agent until all commands of the command queue have been executed. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for installing software on a hardware device by an agent which resides on the hardware device, comprising:
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sending a message to an agent residing on the hardware device informing the agent of a command to install software on the hardware device on which it resides; in response to said message, sending an acknowledgement to a communication network gateway; determining whether the acknowledgement relates to a valid message, and if so transmitting a command from the gateway to the agent to install software on the hardware device; initiating a locking signal regarding resources of the hardware device that are used to execute the command to install software on the hardware device; providing files from a file server to the agent via the communication gateway; installing the files on the hardware device by means of said agent; and removing the locking signal after the files have been installed. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification